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Boating Safety


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#1 riverman1

riverman1
  • NANFA Guest
  • Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin

Posted 22 April 2018 - 01:05 PM

This year I added more safety gear to by boat. I usually fish big rivers with heavy current. I have a tournament catfish boat (20' Deep V) and was thinking if I ever fell out of that boat fishing alone, how would I get back in. I added a quality boat ladder. I always wear a PFD and also added a ring buoy that is mounted where it can be used quickly. I also added a electric fog horn and a better LED stern light. My boat is already lit up nicely with Blue Water LED's inside and out along with side navigation lights at the bow. As always I use Navionics mapping charts to keep me safe from danger areas and they sure help me catch more fish for sure. I took the Sea School Captain's OUPV 6 pack license course and it woke me up to being more safe on the water. Safety 1st on my vessel and hoping it is on yours. Tight lines guys!
 
 

 

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#2 Matt DeLaVega

Matt DeLaVega
  • Forum Staff
  • Ohio

Posted 22 April 2018 - 02:12 PM

Thank you. Do you use a kill switch tether while driving? I have seen videos that really demonstrate the importance of using them.

 

I am interested in learning some of your tactics for targeting big flatheads on large rivers. Where and when do you find them, and why? There must be some degree of science behind it. Most people seem to target deep holes. Seems to me that you would follow the forage fish. So at night, that could often be in shallow water. They are probably the largest predatory freshwater fish in the country, they must have some behavioral patterns that guys like you have picked up on?


The member formerly known as Skipjack


#3 riverman1

riverman1
  • NANFA Guest
  • Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin

Posted 23 April 2018 - 01:28 PM

Thank you. Do you use a kill switch tether while driving? I have seen videos that really demonstrate the importance of using them.

 

I am interested in learning some of your tactics for targeting big flatheads on large rivers. Where and when do you find them, and why? There must be some degree of science behind it. Most people seem to target deep holes. Seems to me that you would follow the forage fish. So at night, that could often be in shallow water. They are probably the largest predatory freshwater fish in the country, they must have some behavioral patterns that guys like you have picked up on?

Hello Matt...

                   I try and use that kill switch tether at all times. It is required at blast off on most tournaments.  Depending on what area of the country you are from, now is the time those flatheads are really biting before their spawn. I target wood structure shallow or deep (daytime) and use live bait if possible. The only time I anchor is when I am targeting flatheads. At night those flatheads will move from their holding structure and move to the shallows looking for a meal. Let me know if you have any other questions as I am willing to help out other anglers as much as possible. Thanks!



#4 riverman1

riverman1
  • NANFA Guest
  • Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin

Posted 02 May 2018 - 10:56 AM

Thank you. Do you use a kill switch tether while driving? I have seen videos that really demonstrate the importance of using them.

 

I am interested in learning some of your tactics for targeting big flatheads on large rivers. Where and when do you find them, and why? There must be some degree of science behind it. Most people seem to target deep holes. Seems to me that you would follow the forage fish. So at night, that could often be in shallow water. They are probably the largest predatory freshwater fish in the country, they must have some behavioral patterns that guys like you have picked up on?

Matt.... do you use a plotter (fish finder) ?  Navionics mapping is awesome to find those flat head holes. I also installed a marine air horn on boat as another safety gear.



#5 Matt DeLaVega

Matt DeLaVega
  • Forum Staff
  • Ohio

Posted 02 May 2018 - 06:21 PM

I am primarily a bank fisherman. I don't own a boat that is Ohio River worthy, so I have only been with others on the river. I may have different ideas about where to fish than they do, but it isn't my boat. Yes, they do have fish finders, GPS, and downloaded maps. But they seem to want to generally fish the deeper areas of the river only. I am not sure that this is the best tactic. I may be very wrong, but I cannot see a reason that flatheads would simply choose deep holes and channels, if there is no reason for 1/4 pound and larger forage fish to hold there. I cannot imagine that the bulk of skipjack, shad, green sunfish etc. are holding in 40 feet of water. Are there really enough macro-invertebrates down there to keep them there? If not, wouldn't the forage fish be in shallower water? So wouldn't the big apex predators be there as well? The guys I end up going out with have not really mastered the art of reading their fish finders, and I am certainly no better. A catfish tournament angler surely has a much better grasp on this than we do.

 

We have over the years managed to catch some good fish. A few in the high 40's, my best was 36 myself. It would be nice to get good and consistent.


The member formerly known as Skipjack





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